CHRIS is sitting on the ground waiting for the school bus. He is reading the BOOK GOEDEL ESCHER BACH. The SCHOOL BUS comes into view. Chris stands and carefully puts a BOOKMARK in his book, and places the book into his ORANGE BACKPACK.
The BUS stops. Chris starts to get on, sees the BUS DRIVER, and stops at the first step.
chris
Who are you? Where's Tom?
bus driver
He was sick...yeah, sick. He, ah, had a cold.
chris
Sick? Tom's never sick.
bus driver
He's sick. I didn't ask him what he has. Do I look like a doctor to you? Take your seat kid, now!
Chris walks down the central aisle. The BUS is half full, and some of the kids throw SPITWADS at CHRIS. He ducks under them, and takes his seat next to his friend JESS.
jess
Hey Chris, how are you doing today?
chris
Good, fine. Hey, did you see the new driver?
jess
Yeah. Where's Tom?
Chris
Don't know.
The BUS runs a stop sign.
chris
I do know that school was that way!
CHRIS points down the street that they just passed. JESS turns back at the street.
JESS
Hey! You're right! What should we do?
Chris
Let's wait just a little longer. This could be a new route.
jess
Okay. You know, my birthday is in three days.
chris
How could I forget! You've been telling me every day for the past month!
jess
That's not fair.
chris
You're right. How about for the last week?
jess
I know, but I'm so excited, I think my mom is getting me a laptop. I hope so anyway.
chris
Cool!
JESS reaches down to his ORANGE BACKPACK, identical to Chris's backpack. He pulls out an INVITATION.
jess
Well, here's an invitation. I hope you can come.
chris
Of course I can come! I was wondering when you would ask!
CHRIS looks at the INVITATION, when suddenly the bus SCREACHES to a halt, throwing them off of their seats.
jess
What's happening?!
The bus backs up and turns onto a DIRT ROAD. JESS and Chris scramble on to their seats.
chris
Did you notice that we were going that fast?
jess
No, I was so excited thinking about my party that I wasn't paying attention.
chris
We must be way out of town by now.
Chris leans over JESS to look out of the WINDOW.
jess
Where are we going?
chris
I don't know. But I'm going to find out!
Chris reaches into his backpack and pulls out his GPs RECEIVER. He fiddles with it while talking.
chris
By the looks of things, we're the only ones who have noticed that we’re not going to school.
jess
Those morons! They wouldn't know where they were if you tied them up and threw them into a vat of molasses!
Principal KESTER speaks to Vice Principal DOYLE.
kester
What do you mean, bus seven hasn't come to school yet?
KESTER looks at his WATCH.
KESTER
A school must run on punc-tu-al-I-ty! Anything less is an-ar-chy!
DOYLE
Yes Sir, I absolutely agree! Punctuality and anarchy! Yes sir! Bus seven and the kids are missing, sir!
KESTER
Well then! Call the police, get things in motion, don't just stand there, do something. Do I have to do everything? (Shaking head) Really Doyle, I expect more from you!
DOYLE
Right away sir...
The KIDS are quietly talking because they know by now that something is not right except for the five kids in the back JAMES, MIKE, STEVE, TOMMY, and LARRY. CHRIS looks at the GPS.
CHRIS
We're ABOUT 80 MILES FROM MY HOUSE
JESS
And getting further away.
FROM BACK OF THE BUS
MIKE
Hey BUCK WEEDS what are you doing
JESS and CHRIS look over their shoulders at the five in the back
jess
Nothing that would concern the likes of you.
mike
that’s for me to decied
chris
we are trying to figure out how large your brain is. it is extremely difficult because we don’t know the dimensions of a Grass Hopper's brain.
steve
at least we don’t look like we have a balloon as our head
looking out the window
jess
Chris it's starting to rain.
larry
Big deal its raining why dose that matter
chris
Well we figured that if were going to get kidnapped it would be easier to escape if....
BUS DRIVER
Hey shut up kid!
the bus is completely quiet except for the sound of rain on the roof and the splatter of mud on the bus from the road
jess
it looks like a flash flood
chris
and even worse we're on a mud road.
From a seat in front of them a small girl with blond hair
jamie
do, do, do you know were we are
chris
it looks like were, well were not going to school that’s for sure
jamie
I know that, but were are we?
jess
were on a dirt road 30 miles away from the highway and then if you follow the highway we're about another 55 miles away from school.
jamie
Do you know his name
She looks up at the driver
jess
No, why?
jamie
Oh, I don’t know, but do you want to know?
chris
that might give us a clue
jess
Ya, but how could we figure it out?
chris
I don’t know.
jamie
well I could help, I think
jess
how?
chris
ya, how?
jamie
well, well, I could ask him.
chris
you would ask him?
jamie
Ya, why not?
chris
I just thought that it seemed... well you know, he kidnapped us. it seems pretty weird to go up and ask him what his name is.
jess
but any way that would be grate if you could, I mean if you want to.
jamie
Ya why not? I'll be right back
JAMIE stands up and walks quickly down the aisle to the front of the bus
Bus driver
What? what do you want?
jamie
sir, what's your name?
bus driver
Why?
jamie
because I was wondering what it is.
bus driver
WHY!?
jamie
well, well I know our other bus drivers name and besides the screenwriter needs a name for you.
bus driver
I'm not going to tell you
jamie
why not?
bus driver
just give you a name to hand over to the authorities
jamie
that’s not why I wanted to know
bus driver
ya, I'm sure. take your seat!
JAMIE walks slowly back to her seat very sad that she failed to get the information that she sad she would get siting at her seat she ignores CHRIS and JESS. Chris and JESS sense this. JESS looks out the window.
chris
If there's a search party they'll never find us way out here. That’s for sure.
jess
Ya and they wont be able to trak us, not in this kind of weather.
chris
and if we were to escape we'd never be able to get back home I mean were in the middle of the wilderness.
jess
Who is he working for?
JESS points up at the driver who is reaching in to his pack to pull out a cigarette.
chris
I don’t know
A girl across the asle starts crying she stands up and walks down to the driver, whimpering
bus driver
What's wrong with you
annie
I have to go to the bath room
bus driver
so?
annie
there's no bath room.
bus driver
ya, but why are you crying
annie
Because I have to go
bus driver
what if I don’t stop?
annie
then I'll cry
bus driver
your already crying
annie
then I'll cry and I'll pee all over the floor
bus driver
why should I care?
annie
believe me Mr. my pee smells really bad
bus driver
NO!
annie
OK, if that’s what you chose
by now all the kids are lissing to the conversation
annie
I'll count to three! one, two
the bus slows down and finly stops
annie
thank you
bus driver opens the door than quickly shuts it and the bus drives away leaving the girl behind theirs the mermer of kids as they talk about what just happened the rain gets worse as they drive on its raining so hard that you cant see more than 5 yards in front of you
jess
look there's men out their. Maybe they can help us!
the bus driver waves out his window
chris
Probably not
jess
Your right.
chris
what are they doing way out there?
jess
what ever it is it cant be good
JESS points to another two busses filled with kids all of a sudden the bus started down a slop
chris
What the...
jamie
oh my goodness
mike
Where are we?!
kester
I cant believe this Doyle how can this possibally be happining to us
doyle
well....
kester
I mean those pour kids have missed 3 hole periods of classis as I said a school must run on punc-tu-al-i-ty any thing less is an-ar-chy now get the police on the phone I have a few things I have to say to them.
doyle
yes sir any thing you say sir
there is a knok on the door DOYLE walks over and opens it
kester
well DOYLE get out of the way who is it? tell them I'm busie
the person out side the dore pushes it open
super attendent
KESTER!
kester
um super attendent MIKLES, I didn’t know it was you, um come on in take a seat. DOYLE!
DOYLE
Yes sir?
kester
get miss mikles a drink!
DOYLE opens the dore to the ofice and walks out standing in the dore way is miss MIKLES whering a BLUE SHIRT and A GREEN SHORT SKIRT MISS MIKLES is know more than 4 feet 7 in high
kester
um, miss MIKLES how are you feeling?
KESTER stands up and motions to his deask chair.
Kester
please take a seat. May I ask by what pleasure you are joining us today?
MISS MIKLES
Pleasure? pleasure! Miss Kester I have reporters on my back evry step I take. Not only that I aslo have 26 parents asking where their kids are...
kester
I can asure you that evry thing is under con...
MISS MIKLES
Do not inturupt me Kester!
kester cowords in the corner of her office.
miss mikles
And I can asure you that evry thing is not OK! Its not even close to OK. If I'm lucky, if were lucky we will survive this, but we will loose are jobs! loose are repratation! and not only that we will be forever SHUND!!
kester
MISS MIKLES I'm sure that it could not possibaly be that bad.
miss mikles
Bad! we have a bus full of kids missing it is bad!
doyle
um, excuse me. I have your dirnks.
miss mikles
oh, yes thank you. You may set them there.
MISS MIKLES points at the desk.
doyal
will that be all?
miss mikles
yes, please shut the door behind you.
DOYAL leaves the room quickly stumbling on his way out
miss mikles
Now, get back to work. I want all of those kids back safely before school is out!
MISS MIKLES leaves the room without another word slaming the door behind her. MISS KESTER looks very releved.
Chris standing to steach his legs and to see what the bus driver is doing.
chris
Why is the bus driver just siting their?
Just then the Bus Driver stands and opens the bus door. The bus falls silent.
bus driver
all of you stay put, if you try to escape you will just be killed sooner.
At the mention of death the hole bus gasps. The bus driver leaves the bus and walks passed all the windows and up the slope.
ANNIE
Wa,wa,wa what's go,go going to happen to ma,ma me? I'm a,a, afraied of the dark. An an and I have no place to go. I do,do don’t know where I am.
ANNIE jumps at a loud sound of craking branches. She screams.
bus driver
hey guys whats up?
Lingo leads scorpio to a table of to the side.
lingo
hey scrorpio finly back eh. took you long enough.
scrorpio takes off his black base ball hat
scrorpio
no shit. nosy little punk.
lingo
who?
scrorpio
this nerd on my bus, I'm worried about him, keep an eye on him if you can.
lingo
ya sure. Here have a beer.
LINGO tosses SCRORPIO a beer.
don’t worry this will be over soon and I have a feeling we'll be leaving here a lot richer. Did you see the size of some of their houses? I bet their parents will pay a fortion to get them back.
LINGO stands up
lingo
come on lets go to the ware house.
they stand up and walk in the direction of a simi large portable ware house.
news person 1 bob
and now we come to the mysterious part of are show. four bus full of kids have been reported missing today. Two from the pines field elemetary, one from brooks haven middle school, and one from the parks side elementary. Now over to steive for the full story.
news reporter 2 steve
As Bob said four busis have been hyjaked on there way to school this morning. The only knowladge the police have aquiered so far is that the busis were seen out side of pits val at two oklock this afternoon, and may have been spoted at three thirty. We also know that aproximintly seventy kids have been reported missing. The kid nappers could be seriusly dangerus so please if you have any imformation that could lead to the kapture of these men please call the emergency hot line asap. (whatching last part on Chrisis mom's T.V.) and Now back to you Bob.
Chrisis mom switshis off the TV looking ubset.
chrisis mom diane
This is it there is absolutly no way that I'm sleeping tonight.
tom
mom don’t sweat it, you now the little dweeb can take care of himself.
diane
Tom! don’t call your brother names.
tom
sorry.
diane
You should be. your brothers missing and you still don’t stop calling him names.
tom
I was saying it in a loving way, you know, brotherly love.
diane
I'm sure
megan
moooom
diane
Yes honey what is it?
megan
I cant sleep
diane
don’t worry neither can I we can keep each other companie, mabie you actualy love your brother unlike other people I know.
tom
ok ok I'm going to bed I can tell when I not wanted.
TOM stands up and walks out of the room. Just as he reaches the door he pops his head around and says
tom
oh, ya I do know what the bus driver looks like but you obviously don’t care.
DIANE jumps up from her chair and races TOM up to his room. in TOMS room there are many posters of foot ball teams base ball teams ect. A bed is in the corner a small deask is in the other corner. next to the bed is a bed side table that has a TV on it. TOM jumps on his bed as DIANE wades over the mess in his room. DIANE sits next to TOM who is pretending to read a magazien.
diane
honey, what do you know about the bus driver?
tom
I was about a block away from the house you know skate bording, and the bus passed. you know those things, their loud so I tured to look at it and I nearly fell of my board! any hows I got a clear view of the bus driver.
diane
OK your going to have to come with me so we can report what he looks like.
tom
bu....
megan
maaaam!!
DIANE quickly stands looking startled as MEGAN runs into the room
megan
mom
diane
what is it?
megan
I went out to get the mail and their was this.
MEGAN pulls out a yellowed piece of paper and flips it open. on the paper it says in a scribbled hand writing.
WE HAVE YOUR KID, PLEASE BRING $50,000 TO THE TOWN PARK AT 12:OOPM IN THREE DAYS.
DIANE
Where are we going to get that kind of money?
tom
I wonder if the insurance covers it, you know lost brother insuranse.
diane
TOM!
tom
sorry mom.
diane
now come on we have to get to the police station.
megan
but mom
diane
not now hun. Now TOM about the bus driver what did he look....
megan
But moom!!
diane
what is it Megan.!
megan
their their's something else.
diane
what is it?
megan
This was also in the mail.
MEGAN unfolds another paper it reads if you go to the police about anything you know your son will be killed. DIANE gasps.
kester
This is insane! they're no closer to finding thoses morons than I am to being a super attendent.
doyal
Why don’t you go home and slep I will make sure you are notified if any thing comes up.
kester
That is very thoughtfull of you Doyal, but what are you?
doyal
A vice princeapal
kester
good. And what am I?
doyal
The princapal. So I guess I'll be leaveing.
kester
What are you talking about. now if the school is in truble than I have to stay up, and if I have to stay up you have to....
doyal
what?
kester
Fill in the blank Doyal.
doyal
Oh, yes, of course. If you have to stay up I have to stay up
kester
Very good.
doyal
why are you looking at me like that?
kester
comfrable Doyal?
doyal
Oh, yes thank you.
kester
Theirs only one problem.
doyal
and what is that Kester?
kester
YOUR NOT WORKING!!!!!!! Now get back to work!!!!!!!!!
doyal
yes, yes of course. But what should I do?
kester
Anything I don’t care what. Go help the janiter for all I care now out.
doyal
Yes of course.
ANNIE is tied up to a chair in the corner of the small shack.
annie
mmummmuumuummmmummummmu
mike
oh, shut up!!! OK ok you win I'll take off my hand ifyou promise not to scream.
annie
mumuumuum!!
mike
OK one, two, Three.
MIKE takes off his hand.
annie
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
MIKE
Fine if that’s the way you want it.
MIKE puts his hand back on Annie's mouth.
CHRIS is hitting his head aginst the seat in front of him.
chris
ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow,
jess
stop it just watching you gives me a head ach.
chris
sorry. I just cant stand being locked in here like this and not knowing whats going to happen next.
jess
you’re my friend, and one of your best qualities is being able to keep your head in a bad situwation.
chris
How do you know that we've never been in bad situation together before.
jess
ya we have. Remember that one time at band camp...
chris
here you go agien
jess
just kidding. But remember when we were in class and the vice princapal took us to the office and we thought we had been caught because the day before we were hacking into different government files.
chris
Ya I remember. But they only wanted to change us into calculus.
jess
Ya right exactly.